Mexican American Studies Should Not Be Banned - 857 Words

â€Å"America is woven of many strands. Our fate is to become one, and yet many† (Ralph Ellison qtd. in D Angelo). Although this quote may be over fifty years old, its meaning still stands; our country should be made of many different cultures and ethnicities that come together to make one United States. However, this cannot be accomplished if our nation does not allow for different cultures to learn about their own country and hold on to their heritage as well as gaining knowledge on the history of the United States. Thus, Mexican-American studies should not be banned in Arizona because contrary to the belief that learning about other cultural struggles is anti-American, actually focusing on the racial identities within the United States is an important step towards becoming a multicultural nation. The United States of America is a nation based on the idea of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness, the people from this country have an obligation to make sure that every American can experience these given rights. However by banning Mexican-American studies in Arizona, this right to express and learn about their culture is taken away. According to Kirk Semple of the New York Times, about 41 percent of all Mexicans between ages 16 and 19 [in the city] have dropped out of school. There could be a plethora of reasons why this statistic may be so high for Mexican-Americans, however, based on the statements made by students in the documentary Precious Knowledge, thereShow MoreRelatedWhat Is The Stance On Ethnic Issues In Education?749 Words   |  3 Pagesnecessary to maintain ethnic equality in our classrooms. However, House bill HB 2120, which would prohibit ethnic-focused studies, should not be passed because it would restrict our history, it is unconstitutional, and it wo uld be harmful to our schools and students. Passage of this bill would do more harm than good in our local community. In 1998, courses in Mexican-American studies (MAS) were introduced into Arizona classrooms in hopes of reversing a troubling trend among Hispanic students in TucsonRead MoreEthnic Studies in Arizona: Both Sides of the Story1183 Words   |  5 PagesThe Tucson Unified School District Board elected to suspend the Mexican-American Studies Program to be in compliance with the state law Arizona statute ARS 15-112. This decision was also made to avoid losing ten percent of its budget in this period of a struggling economy; but that does not complete the story. The history of disagreement began when Tom Horne, the State Superintendent of Schools, during the last days of his term found Tucson School District in violation of all four provisions of theRead MoreChicanismo in Burciaga ´s Drink Cultura1162 Words   |  5 Pagesabout the pride people take about being Latinos, he talks about being back in Mexico and how it’s all so different once you’ve lived on the other sid e, a quote that gives you a mental picture would be â€Å"Many white Euro-Mexican will shrug their shoulders, declare they are 100 percent Mexican do not partition or categorize their ancestry. On the contrary, offense is taken if they are questioned about their background† (Burciaga 45-46). Throughout this book Antonio talks about several obstacles he facesRead MoreThe Debate Of Chicano Studies . Chicano Studies Has Been1684 Words   |  7 PagesDebate of Chicano Studies Chicano Studies has been taught in schools for many years now, however there has been recent issues on whether Chicano Studies should be banned or stay available in schools. Many believe that Chicano Studies has played a beneficial role in student’s success while others strongly disagree. I will be presenting both sides of the issue on whether there should be a Chicano studies curriculum or not. I propose having several regulations for Chicano Studies in a way that mayRead MoreThe Revolution Of Texas Revolution1550 Words   |  7 Pagespart of northern Mexico, against the Mexican government and military. The rebellion led to the establishment of the independent Republic of Texas. The short-lived republic was annexed by the United States as a state in 1845. These events were among the causes of the Mexican War between the United States and Mexico, after which Mexico relinquished all claims to Texas and much of the present-day southwestern United States. In 1835 Texas was part of the Mexican state of Coahuila. Texas and its residentsRead MoreEthical Relativism : A Multicultural Society1104 Words   |  5 Pagesinformed consent. A study was carried out on various individuals from four different groups of people; African Americans, Korean Americans, European Americans and Mexican Americans. They were asked if a patient should be informed of a terminal illness that they have or not. The Mexican and Korean Americans did not believe in this, they believed that a patient should not be told if they have a terminal illness let alone make decisions for themselves while the European and African Americans believed theRead MoreRace And American Culture : The Problem Of Race1338 Words   |  6 Pagesproblem of race in American culture. The history and the effects of race, and analyzes why people think about race as a problem in American culture and why it has to be addressed. The issue of race is a vice that existed in America since the slave and colonial era. It resulted into the practice of racial discrimination in which White Americans had more legal privileges than Asian Americans, African Americans, Latin Americans, and Native Americans. Legally, European Americans had more privilegesRead MoreThe Fight For Equality Throughout America1517 Words   |  7 Pagespopulation actually enjoys. The time period from the end of WWII to the present has featured massive movements for equality. Mexican Americans and the LGBT community fought tirelessly for the political rights, social equality, and equal pay that the majority took for granted, and many are still fighting today. In the American Southwest, large numbers of Mexican Americans toiled in fields and factories working under slave-like conditions. They faced brutal beatings and women were often raped byRead MoreMarijuana Should Not Be Banned Essay1560 Words   |  7 Pagesand unambitious America has all been the result of almost one hundred years of false propaganda and stereotypes gossiped by certain private individuals trying to keep weed illegal for their own personal benefit. The use of cannabis toward medicine should not be shocking to anyone, since it has been around for centuries. As a matter of fact, it has been under medicinal aid for an estimated 5,000 years. Western medicine truly grasped marijuana’s medicinal abilities in the 1850’s. Infact, doctors documentedRead MoreMexicans, Chicanos, Mexican Americans2395 Words   |  10 PagesMexicans, Chicanos, Mexican-Americans, Indigenous, and more are just a few of the terms used to refer to people of Mexican descent. Many Hispanics attempt to enter the United States in search of a better life and to have an enjoyable way of life. However, living in constant fear of being deported and consistently being judged simply because of one’s color, or the inability to communicate in English; that does not sound like the American dream. Typically, people have real reasons to emigrate to the